KINGDOM OF HOLLAND ROYAL ORDER OF HOLLAND (1807) Rare... Lot 47

KINGDOM OF HOLLAND ROYAL ORDER OF HOLLAND (1807) Rare Baron de Sénégra grand-croix jewel. Gold star with eight white enameled branches, four large ones 22 mm long and four smaller ones 19 mm long, with eight finely chased and engraved bees between them. The whole is topped by a hinged crown, decorated with eight branches with three-lobed finials and pearl decoration, on a swivel clasp. Smooth ring. The gold center obverse features a half-round profile of the Sovereign Louis, King of Holland, head to the left, on an amatized background, with gold-inlaid sky-blue enamel legend "LODEWYK I. KONING VAN HOLLAND *" Gold center reverse of Dutch Lion rising from the waves, with sky-blue enamel legend inlaid with gold "DOE WEL EN ZIE NIET OM * " 76 cm. light-blue moiré silk scarf with original bow (cut; slightly sunburned, small holes). Height with crown: 86 mm. Star diameter: 65 mm. Gross weight of jewel: 84 gr. T.T.B. to SUP. Historical background: Created on February 14, 1807 by the merger of the Grand Ordre de l'Union and the Ordre du Mérite, the Royal Order of Holland had a very brief existence "stricto sensu", before becoming the Ordre Royal de l'Union on November 23, 1807. The Royal Order of Holland comprised 30 Grand Crosses, 50 Commanders and 450 Knights. The reason for the order's brief existence was Napoleon's hostility to seeing his brother's profile on the obverse of the insignia. The insignia of the Royal Order of the Union will take the shape of our Royal Order of Holland, but on the obverse in the center, the Dutch lion will replace the profile of King Louis, and on the reverse, ten arrows representing the Kingdom's provinces will replace the Lion. Related work: -The insignia of chevalier of the Royal Order of Holland, and of the Royal Order of the Union of Baron Sénégra, Grand Master of Holland, are kept at the Musée Royal de l'Armée in Brussels, in the former Brouwet collection. (Inv 200161 and Inv 200162). -Jewel of the Royal Order of the Union of Baron de Sénégra. Collection of the Musée de la Légion d'honneur et des ordres de chevalerie. Inv 03250, 08753. Former Brouwet collection.